Rudkhan Castle

Rudkhan Castle in Gilan, also known as Rudkhan Castle in Fuman, is one of the most formidable fortresses in Iran, hidden deep in the forest. Throughout its history, no enemy has ever managed to see the inside of its walls. It is a stone castle with towers and ramparts that soar skyward, right on a mountaintop. After hundreds of years it has now retired, leaving visitors with nothing but wonder.

This beautiful castle lies 20 kilometers southwest of Fuman, near the village of Rudkhan, on the forested heights of the Heydar Alat area, amid dense forest. The castle's elevation above sea level ranges between 655 and 715 meters. To visit it, you have to take a fairly demanding route, as you must climb about 1,000 stone steps. Rudkhan Castle, one of the tourist attractions of Fuman, was added to Iran's National Heritage list in 1975 (1354 SH).

The only way to reach Rudkhan Castle is via Fuman. First get to Fuman, then head toward the road to the village of Rudkhan Castle. The distance from Fuman to Rudkhan Castle is about 25 kilometers and takes roughly 40 minutes. On the way you will pass through several villages, including Gasht, Kord Mahalleh, Gurab Pas and others, and finally you will reach the village of Rudkhan Castle. After passing Heydar Alat, you will see the parking lot of this historic monument at the foot of the mountain.

The steps of Rudkhan Castle emerged from under the soil during archaeological excavations along the sides of the towers and the castle wall, and number about 935. Given this number, it is clear why the monument is called the Thousand-Step Castle. As a visitor, however, you will use the steps that have been built for tourists. I hope you won't be disappointed to hear about the number of newly built steps: as you can see in the photos of Rudkhan Castle, to reach this remarkable treasure in the heights of Fuman, you have to climb about 1,600 steps!

If we look at Rudkhan Castle in Fuman across the different seasons of the year, I recommend choosing spring or autumn. In spring, the lush green forest and pleasant spring weather welcome visitors. In autumn, the rich colors of the autumn forest create a beautiful landscape. That said, you can also visit the castle and walk the trail in other seasons, and it is certainly worthwhile. The castle's visiting hours are every day from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., although these may change slightly between the first and second half of the year.